Image forming system and program between a portable terminal and an image forming device

ABSTRACT

A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program causes a computer included in a portable terminal to communicate with an image forming device to execute: a) a step of acquiring communication information from the image forming device via first wireless communication, the communication information being information for executing second wireless communication; b) a step of executing processing of confirming existence of a user who possesses the portable terminal in the vicinity of the image forming device; and c) a step of, on condition that existence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming device is confirmed in the step b), permitting registration processing of registering the communication information in the portable terminal in order to execute the second wireless communication, the communication information being communication information for the second wireless communication with the image forming device and being acquired in the step a).

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/284,609 and is based on Japanese Patent Application No.2015-200009 filed on Oct. 8, 2015, the entire content of all of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming system including animage forming device (e.g., MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral)) and aportable terminal and a technique related thereto.

Description of the Related Art

There is a technique for performing wireless communication between anMFP and a portable terminal (see, for example, JP 2014-127130 A).

For example, JP 2014-127130 A (see, for example, paragraph 0038 thereof)discloses a technique for exchanging data between an MFP and a portableterminal with the use of near field communication (NFC) andcommunication using a wireless LAN. In the technique disclosed in JP2014-127130 A, first, NFC communication is established between the MFPand the portable terminal, and connection information for wireless LANcommunication (SSID (Service Set Identifier) and the like) istransmitted from the MFP to the portable terminal by using the NFCcommunication. Then, wireless LAN communication is established betweenthe MFP and the portable terminal by using the connection information,and, for example, printing data is transmitted from the portableterminal to the MFP via comparatively high-speed wireless LANcommunication.

By the way, various wireless communication techniques can be used forcommunication between an image forming device and a portable terminal.For example, it is considered that short-range wireless communicationsuch as Bluetooth communication (communication based on a Bluetooth(registered trademark) standard (including BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)))is employed instead of NFC (near field communication).

However, a communication range in NFC communication is about severalcentimeters, whereas a communication range in Bluetooth communication(e.g., BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE)) communication) iscomparatively large and reaches, for example, about 30 meters in somecases. In the case where BLE communication is performed between aportable terminal and an MFP, the portable terminal and the MFP mayactually be some distance away from each other, and therefore there is aconcern about a harmful effect thereof.

For example, it is concerned that, in the case where an MFP is placed ina certain building, the MFP can be accessed from a building next to thecertain building by using a portable terminal. In short, unauthorizedaccess may be performed from the next building by using a portableterminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, a first object of the present application is to providea technique capable of preventing unauthorized access to an imageforming device from a comparatively distant place with the use of aportable terminal.

There is not only the above-mentioned concern (i.e., concern aboutunauthorized access from the next building) but also the followingconcern.

For example, in the case where wireless LAN communication andshort-range wireless communication are not used together, i.e., in thecase where only short-range wireless communication is used without usingwireless LAN communication (more specifically, in the case of logging inan image forming device from a portable terminal by using short-rangewireless communication), the following problem may arise.

Specifically, assuming that, although a portable terminal actuallyexists at a position comparatively distant from an image forming device,login information is unconditionally transmitted from the portableterminal to the image forming device via BLE communication, a user ofthe portable terminal is allowed to perform login even in the case wherethe user exists at a place comparatively distant from the image formingdevice. In this case, the image forming device may misrecognizeoperation (panel operation) of the image forming device by a user(another user who exists in the vicinity of the image forming device)who is different from the user (also referred to as “login user”) asoperation by the login user and execute processing based on theoperation. In short, panel operation by another user may bemisrecognized as panel operation by the login user.

In view of this, a second object of the present application is toprovide a technique capable of preventing login to an image formingdevice using a portable terminal that exists in a comparatively distantplace and preventing operation by a user who is different from a loginuser from being misrecognized as operation by the login user.

To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to anaspect, a non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readableprogram reflecting one aspect of the present invention causes a computerincluded in a portable terminal to communicate with an image formingdevice to execute: a) a step of acquiring communication information fromthe image forming device via first wireless communication using a firstwireless communication method, the communication information beinginformation for executing second wireless communication using a secondwireless communication method; b) a step of executing processing ofconfirming existence of a user who possesses the portable terminal inthe vicinity of the image forming device; and c) a step of, on conditionthat existence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming deviceis confirmed in the step b), permitting registration processing ofregistering the communication information in the portable terminal inorder to execute the second wireless communication, the communicationinformation being communication information for the second wirelesscommunication with the image forming device and being acquired in thestep a).

According to an invention of Item. 2, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 1, thestep b) preferably includes b-1) a step of capturing an image of atwo-dimensional barcode displayed in the image forming device by usingan image pickup unit of the portable terminal, and b-2) a step ofdetermining existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice on condition that information acquired by analyzing thetwo-dimensional barcode included in the photographed image captured inthe step b-1) and information contained in the communication informationacquired in the step a) are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 3, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 1, thestep b) preferably includes b-1) a step of capturing an image of atwo-dimensional barcode displayed in the image forming device by usingan image pickup unit of the portable terminal, b-2) a step of acquiringinformation containing device identification information of the imageforming device from the image forming device via the first wirelesscommunication, and b-3) a step of determining existence of the user inthe vicinity of the image forming device on condition that informationacquired by analyzing the two-dimensional barcode included in thephotographed image captured in the step b-1) and information acquired inthe step b-2) are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 4, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 1, thestep b) preferably includes b-1) a step of reading information of an NFCtag placed in the image forming device by using the portable terminal toacquire the information, and b-2) a step of determining existence of theuser in the vicinity of the image forming device on condition that theinformation acquired in the step b-1) and information contained in thecommunication information acquired in the step a) are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 5, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 1, thestep b) preferably includes b-1) a step of reading information of an NFCtag placed in the image forming device by using the portable terminal toacquire the information, b-2) a step of acquiring information containingdevice identification information of the image forming device from theimage forming device in the first wireless communication, and b-3) astep of determining existence of the user in the vicinity of the imageforming device on condition that the information acquired in the stepb-1) and information acquired in the step b-2) are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 6, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to any one ofItems. 2 to 5, the communication information preferably contains deviceidentification information, and in the step b-2), existence of the userin the vicinity of the image forming device is preferably determined oncondition that device identification information acquired in the stepb-1) and the device identification information acquired in the step a)are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 7, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 6, thedevice identification information preferably includes a MAC address.

According to an invention of Item. 8, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 7, thecommunication information preferably includes an SSID for the secondwireless communication and a password for the second wirelesscommunication, and in the step b-2), existence of the user in thevicinity of the image forming device is preferably determined oncondition that an SSID, a password, and a MAC address acquired in thestep b-1) are matched with the SSID, the password, and the MAC address,respectively, acquired in the step a).

According to an invention of Item. 9, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 1, thestep b) preferably includes b-1) a step of receiving card identificationinformation from the image forming device via the first wirelesscommunication, the card identification information being cardidentification information of an IC card of the user and being read byan IC card reader of the image forming device, and b-2) a step ofdetermining existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice on condition that the card identification information acquired inthe step b-1) and card identification information of a usable IC cardregistered in the portable terminal in advance are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 10, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to any one ofItems. 1 to 9, the computer readable program preferably causes thecomputer to further execute d) a step of trying the second wirelesscommunication with a communication destination specified by an IPaddress acquired in the step a) and, based on success or failure of thesecond wireless communication, determining whether or not theregistration processing of the communication information for executingthe second wireless communication has been completed, and the step c) ispreferably executed on condition that it is determined in the step d)that the registration processing of the communication information forexecuting the second wireless communication has not yet been completed.

According to an invention of Item. 11, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to any one ofItems. 1 to 10, the first wireless communication is preferably executedwithout pairing processing between the image forming device and theportable terminal.

To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to anaspect, a portable terminal to communicate with an image forming devicereflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a firstwireless communication unit configured to execute first wirelesscommunication using a first wireless communication method; a secondwireless communication unit configured to execute second wirelesscommunication using a second wireless communication method; acommunication control unit configured to acquire information containingcommunication information for executing the second wirelesscommunication from the image forming device via the first wirelesscommunication; a confirmation unit configured to execute confirmationprocessing of confirming existence of a user who possesses the portableterminal in the vicinity of the image forming device; and a registrationcontrol unit configured to permit registration processing of registeringthe communication information for the second wireless communication withthe image forming device in the portable terminal in order to executethe second wireless communication on condition that the confirmationunit confirms existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice.

According to an invention of Item. 13, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 12, the confirmation unit preferably includes animage pickup unit configured to capture an image of a two-dimensionalbarcode displayed in the image forming device, and a determination unitconfigured to determine existence of the user in the vicinity of theimage forming device on condition that information acquired by analyzingthe two-dimensional barcode included in the photographed image capturedby the image pickup unit and the information acquired from the imageforming device via the first wireless communication are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 14, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 13, the communication control unit preferablyacquires information containing device identification information of theimage forming device from the image forming device via the firstwireless communication, and the determination unit preferably determinesexistence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming device oncondition that device identification information acquired by analyzingthe two-dimensional barcode in the photographed image and the deviceidentification information acquired from the image forming device viathe first wireless communication are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 15, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 14, the communication information preferably includesan SSID for the second wireless communication and a password for thesecond wireless communication, and the determination unit preferablydetermines existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice on condition that an SSID, a password, and a MAC address acquiredby analyzing the two-dimensional barcode in the photographed image arematched with the SSID, the password, and a MAC address, respectively,acquired from the image forming device via the first wirelesscommunication.

According to an invention of Item. 16, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 12, the confirmation unit preferably includes areading unit configured to read information of an NFC tag placed in theimage forming device to acquire the information, and a determinationunit configured to determine existence of the user in the vicinity ofthe image forming device on condition that the information acquired bythe reading unit and the information acquired from the image formingdevice via the first wireless communication are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 17, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 16, the communication control unit preferablyacquires information containing device identification information of theimage forming device from the image forming device via the firstwireless communication, and the determination unit preferably determinesexistence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming device oncondition that device identification information acquired by the readingunit and the device identification information acquired from the imageforming device via the first wireless communication are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 18, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 17, the communication information preferably includesan SSID for the second wireless communication and a password for thesecond wireless communication, and the determination unit preferablydetermines existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice on condition that an SSID, a password, and a MAC address acquiredby the reading unit are matched with the SSID, the password, and a MACaddress, respectively, acquired from the image forming device via thefirst wireless communication.

According to an invention of Item. 19, in the portable terminalaccording to Item. 12, the first wireless communication unit preferablyreceives card identification information from the image forming device,the card identification information being card identificationinformation of an IC card of the user and being read by an IC cardreader of the image forming device, and the confirmation unit preferablyincludes a determination unit configured to determine existence of theuser in the vicinity of the image forming device on condition that thecard identification information acquired by the first wirelesscommunication unit via the first wireless communication and cardidentification information of a usable IC card registered in theportable terminal in advance are matched.

According to an invention of Item. 20, in the portable terminalaccording to any one of Items. 12 to 19, the communication control unitpreferably tries the second wireless communication with a communicationdestination specified by an IP address acquired via the first wirelesscommunication, and the registration control unit preferably determineswhether or not the registration processing of the communicationinformation for executing the second wireless communication has beencompleted on the basis of a result of trial of the second wirelesscommunication, causes the confirmation unit to execute the confirmationprocessing on condition that it is determined that the registrationprocessing has not yet been completed, and determines whether to permitthe registration processing of registering the communication informationin the portable terminal in order to execute the second wirelesscommunication.

According to an invention of Item. 21, in the portable terminalaccording to any one of Items. 12 to 20, the first wirelesscommunication is preferably executed without pairing processing betweenthe image forming device and the portable terminal.

To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to anaspect, a non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readableprogram reflecting one aspect of the present invention causes a computerincluded in a portable terminal communicable with an image formingdevice by using short-range wireless communication to log in the imageforming device to execute: a) a step of registering card identificationinformation of an IC card of a user who possesses the portable terminalin the portable terminal in advance; b) a step of, in the case whereoperation to log in the image forming device is performed by the userafter the step a), receiving card identification information of an ICcard read by an IC card reader of the image forming device from theimage forming device via the short-range wireless communication; c) astep of determining existence of the user in the vicinity of the imageforming device on condition that the card identification informationacquired in the step b) and the card identification informationregistered in the portable terminal in advance in the step a) arematched; and d) a step of transmitting the user's login information tothe image forming device to the image forming device via the short-rangewireless communication on condition that existence of the user in thevicinity of the image forming device is determined in the step c).

According to an invention of Item. 23, in the non-transitory recordingmedium storing a computer readable program according to Item. 22, in thestep b), in the case where the image forming device determines that thecard identification information read by the IC card reader has not yetbeen registered in the image forming device, the card identificationinformation is preferably transmitted from the image forming device tothe portable terminal via the short-range wireless communication.

To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to anaspect, a portable terminal communicable with an image forming device byusing short-range wireless communication to log in the image formingdevice, reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: aregistration control unit configured to accept processing of registeringcard identification information of an IC card of a user who possessesthe portable terminal in the portable terminal in advance; a receptionunit configured to, in the case where operation to log in the imageforming device is performed by the user, receive card identificationinformation of an IC card read by an IC card reader of the image formingdevice from the image forming device via the short-range wirelesscommunication; a confirmation unit configured to confirm existence ofthe user in the vicinity of the image forming device on condition thatthe card identification information received by the reception unit andthe card identification information registered in the portable terminalin advance by using the registration control unit are matched; and atransmission unit configured to transmit the user's login information tothe image forming device to the image forming device via the short-rangewireless communication on condition that existence of the user in thevicinity of the image forming device is confirmed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are givenby way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an image forming system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof an MFP (image forming device);

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof a portable terminal;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation of a portable terminal(application);

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing operation of each device in thissystem;

FIG. 6 shows a main menu screen;

FIG. 7 shows a device registration screen;

FIG. 8 shows a device registration screen;

FIG. 9 shows a dialog screen;

FIG. 10 shows a dialog screen;

FIG. 11 shows a state in which a two-dimensional barcode is displayed onan MFP;

FIG. 12 shows a profile registration screen;

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof an MFP according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operation of a portable terminal(application) according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing operation of each device in asystem according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof an MFP according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing operation of a portable terminal(application) according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing operation of each device in asystem according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof an MFP according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing operation of a portable terminal(application) according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing operation of each device in asystem according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 22 shows a dialog screen;

FIG. 23 shows a registered device list screen; and

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing registration processing of BLE-relatedinformation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention isnot limited to the illustrated examples.

1. First Embodiment <1-1. Overview of Configuration>

FIG. 1 shows an image forming system 1 (also referred to as “1A”)according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image formingsystem 1 (1A) includes an MFP (image forming device) 10 (10A) and aportable terminal 50 (50A).

The MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50 are wirelessly connected to eachother by using various wireless communication techniques. For example,short-range wireless communication and communication using a wirelessLAN (e.g., IEEE 802.11) can be used for communication between the MFP 10and the portable terminal. In this embodiment, as the short-rangewireless communication, communication using a Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) method (Bluetooth communication) is used. More specifically,as the Bluetooth communication, communication using a BLE (Bluetooth LowEnergy) method (also referred to as “BLE communication”) is employed.Note that the image forming system 1 is also referred to as“communication system”.

First, the portable terminal 50 (specifically, an application 120 (seeFIG. 3) installed on the portable terminal 50) executes BLEcommunication with the MFP 10. In this BLE communication, communicationinformation (IP address, SSID (Service Set Identifier), password, andthe like) for performing wireless LAN communication (e.g., WiFicommunication) is acquired. Thereafter, the portable terminal 50 canperform wireless LAN communication by using this communicationinformation. Note that the communication information is also referred toas connection information for establishing wireless LAN communicationconnection.

However, assuming that, immediately after the communication informationfor a wireless LAN is received via BLE communication, the communicationinformation is immediately registered in the portable terminal 50, thefollowing problem arises.

Specifically, a communication range of Bluetooth communication (e.g.,BLE communication) reaches, for example, about 30 meters in some casesas described above, and therefore, even in the case where both theportable terminal 50 and the MFP 10 are some distance away from eachother, BLE communication can be performed between the both devices insome cases. In this case, for example, it is concerned that the MFP canbe accessed by using the portable terminal from a building next to abuilding in which the MFP is placed. In short, it is concerned thatunauthorized access from the next building is performed by using theportable terminal 50.

In view of this, in the first embodiment, as described below, existenceof a user of the portable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 isconfirmed by, for example, capturing an image of a two-dimensionalbarcode displayed on a touchscreen 25 of the MFP 10 with the use of animage pickup unit 57 of the portable terminal 50. On condition thatexistence of the user in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed,registration processing of registering the communication information,which is communication information for wireless LAN communication withthe MFP 10 and is acquired via BLE communication, in the portableterminal 50 is permitted.

According to this, it is possible to prevent unauthorized access to animage forming device from a comparatively distant place with the use ofa portable terminal. Such an embodiment will be described in more detailbelow.

<1-2. Configuration of Image Forming Device>

FIG. 2 shows a functional block of the image forming device 10. Herein,an MFP (multi-functional peripheral) is exemplified as the image formingdevice 10. In FIG. 2, a functional block of the MFP 10 is shown. Notethat the MFP 10 is also expressed as “image processing device” or thelike.

The MFP 10 is a device (also referred to as “multifunction device”)having a scanning function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a boxstorage function, and the like. Specifically, as shown in the functionalblock diagram of FIG. 2, the MFP 10 includes an image reading unit 2, aprinting output unit 3, a communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, anoperation unit 6, a controller 9, and the like and realizes variousfunctions by complexly operating those units.

The image reading unit 2 is a processing unit for optically reading(i.e., scanning) a manuscript placed on a predetermined position of theMFP 10 and generating image data of the manuscript (also referred to as“manuscript image” or “scanned image”) (forming an image thereof). Theimage reading unit 2 is also referred to as “scanning unit”.

The printing output unit 3 is an output unit for printing and outputtingan image (forming an image) on various media such as paper on the basisof data regarding a target to be printed.

The communication unit 4 is a processing unit capable of performingfacsimile communication via a public network or the like. Thecommunication unit 4 can also perform various kinds of wirelesscommunication (including wireless communication using a Bluetooth methodand the like). Specifically, the communication unit 4 includes awireless LAN communication unit 4 a for performing wirelesscommunication using a wireless LAN (e.g., IEEE 802.11) and a short-rangewireless communication unit 4 b for performing wireless communicationusing a Bluetooth method. The MFP 10 includes a communication chip 42(also referred to as “short-range wireless communication chip”)functioning as a part or all of the short-range wireless communicationunit 4 b (see also FIG. 1). The communication chip 42 canbroadcast-transmit advertising data. The advertising data contains anidentifier for identifying the MFP 10 (device identificationinformation) (e.g., a MAC address (Media Access Control address) of theMFP 10). The device identification information is also expressed asinformation for uniquely specifying (identifying) a device.

The storage unit 5 includes a storage device such as a hard disk drive(HDD).

The operation unit 6 includes an operation input unit 6 a for acceptingoperation input to the MFP 10 and a display unit 6 b for displaying andoutputting various kinds of information.

In the MFP 10, a substantially plate-like operation panel unit 6 c (seeFIG. 1) is provided. The operation panel unit 6 c includes thetouchscreen 25 (see FIG. 1) on the front side thereof. The touchscreen25 also functions as a part of the operation input unit 6 a and alsofunctions as a part of the display unit 6 b. The touchscreen 25 isconfigured by embedding various sensors and the like in a liquid crystaldisplay panel and can display various kinds of information and acceptvarious kinds of operation input from an operator.

The controller 9 is a control device that is included in the MFP 10 andcomprehensively controls the MFP 10. The controller 9 is configured as acomputer system including a CPU, various semiconductor memories (RAM andROM), and the like. The controller 9 realizes various processing unitsby executing, in the CPU, a predetermined software program (hereinafter,also simply referred to as “program”) stored in the ROM (e.g., EEPROM(registered trademark)). Note that the program (specifically, programmodule group) may be recorded on a portable recording medium such as aUSB memory and be read out from the recording medium to be installed onthe MFP 10. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a networkor the like to be installed on the MFP 10.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 9 executes the aboveprogram to realize various processing units including a communicationcontrol unit 11, an input control unit 12, a display control unit 13,and an operation control unit 14.

The communication control unit 11 is a processing unit that cooperateswith the communication unit 4 and the like to control communicationoperation with another device (e.g., portable terminal 50). Thecommunication control unit 11 includes a transmission control unit forcontrolling transmission operation of various kinds of data and areception control unit for controlling reception operation of variouskinds of data.

The input control unit 12 is a control unit for controlling operation ofoperation input to the operation input unit 6 a (touchscreen 25 and thelike). For example, the input control unit 12 controls operation ofaccepting operation input (e.g., specification input from a user) to anoperation screen displayed on the touchscreen 25.

The display control unit 13 is a processing unit for controlling displayoperation in the display unit 6 b (touchscreen 25 and the like). Thedisplay control unit 13 displays, for example, an operation screen(remote operation screen) 200 for operating the MFP 10 on thetouchscreen 25.

The operation control unit 14 is a processing unit for controllingvarious operations (printing output operation, scanning operation, andthe like).

<1-3. Configuration of Portable Terminal>

A configuration of the portable terminal 50 will be described.

The portable terminal 50 is a device capable of cooperatively operatingwith the MFP 10 (image forming device).

Specifically, the portable terminal 50 is an information input/outputterminal device (information terminal) capable of performingcommunication (short-range wireless communication, wireless LANcommunication, and the like) with the MFP 10. Herein, a tablet terminalis exemplified as the portable terminal 50. However, the portableterminal 50 is not limited thereto and may be a smartphone or the like.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configurationof the portable terminal 50.

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the portableterminal 50 includes a communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, anoperation unit 56, the image pickup unit 57, a controller 59, and thelike and realizes various functions by complexly operating those units.

The communication unit 54 can perform various kinds of wirelesscommunication (including wireless communication based on a Bluetoothstandard and the like). Specifically, the communication unit 54 includesa wireless LAN communication unit 54 a for performing wirelesscommunication using a wireless LAN (e.g., IEEE 802.11) and a short-rangewireless communication unit 54 b for performing wireless communicationusing Bluetooth (more specifically, BLE communication or the like). Eachof the communication units 54 a and 54 b includes a transmission unitand a reception unit.

The short-range wireless communication unit 54 b receives advertisingdata broadcast-transmitted from the communication chip 42 included inthe MFP 10.

The short-range wireless communication unit 54 b executes short-rangewireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth communication) with acommunication target device specified on the basis of the advertisingdata or the like. For example, in this short-range wirelesscommunication, wireless LAN communication information and the like canbe acquired, and device registration processing (registration processingof wireless LAN communication information) (described below) can beexecuted on the basis of the acquired information. Note that the deviceregistration processing based on the acquired information viashort-range wireless communication is not unconditionally (immediately)performed after the information is acquired but is performed oncondition that existence of a user of the portable terminal 50 in thevicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed.

By using the information (IP address of communication target device,SSID regarding access point, and the like) acquired by the short-rangewireless communication unit 54 b, the wireless LAN communication unit 54a can perform wireless communication using a wireless LAN (specifically,wireless LAN communication using the access point) with thecommunication target device. However, wireless LAN communication of theportable terminal 50 can be executed only with a registered device afterthe above-mentioned device registration processing (described below).

The storage unit 55 includes a storage device such as a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory.

The operation unit 56 includes an operation input unit 56 a foraccepting operation input to the portable terminal 50 and a display unit56 b for displaying and outputting various kinds of information. In theportable terminal 50, a touchscreen 75 (see FIG. 1) configured byembedding various sensors and the like in a liquid crystal display panelis provided. The touchscreen 75 also functions as a part of theoperation input unit 56 a and also functions as a part of the displayunit 56 b. The touchscreen 75 displays various operation screens(display screens) and the like and accepts, for example, operation inputto the operation screens.

The image pickup unit 57 includes an image pickup element (e.g., CCD),an image pickup optical system, and the like for capturing an image of asubject. The image pickup unit 57 captures an image of, for example, atwo-dimensional barcode (described below) displayed on the touchscreen25.

The controller 59 in FIG. 3 is a control device that is included in theportable terminal 50 and comprehensively controls the portable terminal50. The controller 59 is configured as a computer system including aCPU, various semiconductor memories (RAM and ROM), and the like. Thecontroller 59 realizes various processing units by executing, in theCPU, a predetermined software program (hereinafter, also simply referredto as “program”) stored in the storage unit 55 (nonvolatilesemiconductor memory and the like). Note that the program (specifically,program module group) may be recorded on a portable recording mediumsuch as a USB memory and be read out from the recording medium to beinstalled on the portable terminal 50. Alternatively, the program may bedownloaded via a network or the like to be installed on the portableterminal 50.

A predetermined operating system (OS) 110 (see FIG. 3) is installed onthe portable terminal 50, and the application program 120 (also simplyreferred to as “application”) operating in the OS 110 is also installedthereon. For example, an application for causing the MFP 10 to printvarious electronic documents (also referred to as “printingapplication”) is installed.

Specifically, the controller 59 executes the application 120 in the OS110 to realize various processing units including a communicationcontrol unit 61, an input control unit 62, a display control unit 63, aconfirmation unit 64, a registration control unit 65, and a recognitionunit 67.

The communication control unit 61 is a processing unit that cooperateswith the communication unit 54 and the like to control communicationoperation with the MFP 10 and the like.

The input control unit 62 is a control unit for controlling operation ofoperation input to the operation input unit 56 a (touchscreen 75 and thelike).

The display control unit 63 is a processing unit for controlling displayoperation in the display unit 56 b (touchscreen 75 and the like). Thedisplay control unit 63 controls, for example, display operation ofvarious display screens (201, 301, and the like) (described below).

The recognition unit 67 is a processing unit for executingtwo-dimensional barcode recognition processing (processing ofrecognizing a two-dimensional barcode (e.g., QR code (registeredtrademark)) included in a photographed image captured by the imagepickup unit 57).

The confirmation unit 64 is a processing unit for controlling processingfor confirming existence of a user who possesses the portable terminal50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10. In this embodiment, the confirmationunit 64 cooperates with the recognition unit 67 and the like to confirmexistence of the user in the vicinity of the MFP 10.

The registration control unit 65 is a processing unit for executingregistration processing of registering communication information of theMFP 10 in the portable terminal 50 (OS 110 and/or application 120) inorder to perform various kinds of communication (in particular, wirelessLAN communication). For example, as described below, the registrationcontrol unit 65 executes the registration processing on condition thatexistence of a user of the portable terminal 50 in the vicinity of theMFP 10 is confirmed by the confirmation unit 64.

<1-4. Operation>

In the first embodiment, operation regarding a function (deviceregistration function) of registering, in the application 120, a device(image forming device) used by the application 120 will be mainlydescribed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation of the application120 of the portable terminal 50, and FIG. 5 is a sequence diagramshowing operation of each device in this system 1. Operation in thissystem 1 (in particular, operation regarding the device registrationfunction) will be described with reference to those drawings.

When the application 120 is started in the portable terminal 50 inaccordance with user operation in the portable terminal 50, a main menuscreen 201 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the touchscreen 75.

The main menu screen 201 has a plurality of options (“deviceregistration (device addition)” 211, “MFP panel login” 212, “printing”213, “scanning” 214, “setting” 215, and the like).

When the “device registration” is selected from those options, operationregarding a function (device registration function) of registering, inthis application 120, a device (image forming device) that a userdesires to use is started. Such operation will be described below.

Specifically, when the user of the portable terminal 50 selects theoption “device registration” in the main menu screen 201, the portableterminal 50 displays a screen 301 (see FIG. 7) on the touchscreen 75. Aplurality of options 321 to 324 (“automatic”, “manual”, “QR”, and “BLE”)regarding a device registration method is displayed in the screen 301.Further, when the user pushes the BLE button 324 in the screen 301 toselect “device registration processing using BLE”, the portable terminal50 first starts BLE communication.

Specifically, the portable terminal 50 detects advertising data from theMFP 10 in the vicinity thereof (see step S1 in a top part of FIG. 5).Note that, at this time, for example, the wording “Searching . . . ” isdisplayed in a message section 311 of the screen 301 (see FIG. 7).

Then, the portable terminal 50 specifies a transmission source device ofthe advertising data and executes BLE communication with the MFP 10specified as the transmission source device. Specifically, the portableterminal 50 transmits a transmission request of communicationinformation of the MFP 10 to the MFP 10 (see step S3 in FIG. 5), and, inresponse to the transmission request, the MFP 10 transmits thecommunication information of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 50 (seestep S4 in FIG. 5). The portable terminal 50 receives the communicationinformation and the like from the MFP 10 and thus acquires thecommunication information and the like. The communication informationcontains, for example, device identification information (e.g., MACaddress) of the MFP 10 and wireless LAN communication information (SSID,password, and IP address) of the MFP 10. Note that, in this BLEcommunication (Bluetooth communication), data is transmitted/receivedwithout executing pairing processing between the MFP 10 and the portableterminal 50 (in particular, pairing processing with user confirmation(pairing processing using a “Numeric Comparison” method, a “PasskeyEntry” method, or the like)).

Next, the portable terminal 50 specifies a communication destinationdevice by using the “IP address” in the wireless LAN communicationinformation acquired via BLE communication (step S4) and tries wirelessLAN communication with the MFP 10 serving as the specified communicationdestination device (step S5). Note that, at this stage, processing ofregistering the information acquired in step S4 in the portable terminal50 has not yet been executed. In wireless LAN communication (trialcommunication) in step S5, regarding the information (SSID and password)on the communication destination device (MFP 10) other than the “IPaddress”, only information registered in advance is used, and theinformation acquired in step S4 is not used.

Then, based on success or failure of the wireless LAN communication (aresult of trial of wireless LAN communication), the portable terminal 50determines whether or not registration processing of communicationinformation for executing wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10(specifically, information containing not only an IP address but also anSSID and a password (also referred to as “wireless LAN communicationinformation”)) has already been completed in the application 120 (stepS11).

Assuming that registration of the wireless LAN communication informationon the MFP 10 has already been completed in the application 120, theregistered information (SSID and password) is also automatically used toperform wireless LAN communication. As a result, the wireless LANcommunication succeeds between the portable terminal 50 and the MFP 10.

On the contrary, in the case where registration of the wireless LANcommunication information on the MFP 10 has not yet been completed inthe application 120, wireless LAN communication is performed withoutusing the SSID or the password. As a result, the wireless LANcommunication fails between the portable terminal 50 and the MFP 10.

By using such a characteristic, the portable terminal 50 determinespresence/absence of registration of the wireless LAN communicationinformation on the MFP 10 on the basis of success or failure of wirelessLAN communication (a result of trial of wireless LAN communication).Specifically, in the case where wireless LAN communication succeeds, itis determined that registration of the wireless LAN communicationinformation on the MFP 10 has already been completed in the application120. On the contrary, in the case where wireless LAN communicationfails, it is determined that registration of the wireless LANcommunication information on the MFP 10 has not yet been completed inthe application 120.

Divergence processing based on a result of this determination isperformed (step S11).

In the case where the wireless LAN communication in step S5 succeeds andit is determined that registration of the wireless LAN communicationinformation on the MFP 10 has already been completed, the processingproceeds from step S11 to step S12.

In step S12, the portable terminal 50 changes over from BLEcommunication to wireless LAN communication and requires the MFP 10 totransmit detailed information on the MFP 10 via wireless LANcommunication. In response to this request, the MFP 10 transmits thedetailed information on the MFP 10 (installation place, model name,authentication information, and the like) to the portable terminal 50via wireless LAN communication. The portable terminal 50 receives thedetailed information from the MFP 10 and displays a screen 303 (FIG. 8)on the touchscreen 75.

In the screen 303, a message indicating that, for example, communicationwith the communication destination device via wireless LAN communicationhas succeeded (“Printer is found.”) is displayed in the display section311, and a button 313 for instructing device registration of thecommunication destination device (MFP 10) in the application 120 isdisplayed. When the user pushes the button 313 to give a registrationinstruction (addition instruction), device information on the MFP 10 (IPaddress, SSID for wireless LAN, password for wireless LAN, MAC address,installation place, model name, authentication information, and thelike) is registered in the application 120.

Then, a dialog screen 315 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, and whether toregister the target device (MFP 10) in the current addition processing(registration processing) in the application 120 as a default device isconfirmed. When a “yes” button in the dialog screen 315 is pushed, theMFP 10 is registered as a default device. On the contrary, when a “no”button in the dialog screen 315 is pushed, the MFP 10 is not registeredas a default device.

In step S12, the above processing is performed.

In the case where wireless LAN communication in step S5 fails and it isdetermined that the registration processing of the wireless LANcommunication information on the MFP 10 has not yet been completed, theprocessing proceeds from step S11 to step S21. In other words, oncondition that it is determined that the registration processing has notyet been completed, processing in steps S21 and S22 (described below) isexecuted, and whether to permit the registration processing isdetermined.

In step S21, the portable terminal 50 displays a dialog screen 317 shownin FIG. 10 on the touchscreen 75. In the dialog screen (message screen)317, the wording describing how to display a QR code (two-dimensionalbarcode), the wording “Please display the QR code on the operation panelof the MFP.”, and the like are written.

Next, the user performs menu selection operation or the like by usingthe operation panel unit 6 c (touchscreen 25 and the like) of the MFP 10while referring to a display content in the dialog screen 317, therebydisplaying a two-dimensional barcode (QR code) 318 (see FIG. 11) on thetouchscreen 25 of the MFP 10. The two-dimensional barcode 318 isgenerated by the MFP 10 and is displayed on the touchscreen 25 of theMFP 10. In the two-dimensional barcode 318, device identificationinformation (e.g., MAC address) of the MFP 10, wireless LANcommunication (wireless LAN connection) information (SSID, password, andIP address) of the MFP 10, and the like are embedded.

When an OK button in the dialog screen 317 is pushed, the portableterminal 50 transitions to a photographing mode using the image pickupunit 57 thereof (specifically, a photographing mode for recognizing thetwo-dimensional barcode). The user moves the user's portable terminal 50to the vicinity of the touchscreen 25 to capture an image of thetwo-dimensional barcode displayed on the touchscreen 25 of the MFP 10 byusing the image pickup unit 57 of the portable terminal 50. The portableterminal 50 (recognition unit 67 and the like) analyzes the photographedimage (photographed image including the two-dimensional barcode)captured by the image pickup unit 57 and extracts the informationembedded in the two-dimensional barcode.

Then, in step S22, the portable terminal 50 compares (collates) theinformation acquired from the two-dimensional barcode (step S21) withthe information acquired via BLE communication (steps S1 to S4). Inshort, pieces of the information acquired via two different paths arecompared.

In step S22, for example, whether or not three pieces of the information(SSID, password, and MAC address) acquired from the two-dimensionalbarcode are matched with three respective pieces of the information(SSID, password, and MAC address) acquired via BLE communication isdetermined. Based on a result of this determination, whether or not theuser who possesses the portable terminal 50 exists in the vicinity ofthe MFP 10 is further determined.

In the case where, among three kinds of information (six pieces ofinformation in total) acquired via the two different paths, not all thepieces of information of the same kind acquired via the two paths arematched, it is determined that the portable terminal 50 does not existin the vicinity of the MFP 10. For example, in the case where the SSIDacquired from the two-dimensional barcode and the SSID acquired via BLEcommunication are not matched, it is determined that the portableterminal 50 does not exist in the vicinity of the MFP 10. Then, theprocessing proceeds from step S22 to step S28.

As described above, in the case where identity of the pieces of theinformation acquired via the two different paths is denied, it isdetermined that the portable terminal 50 does not exist in the vicinityof the MFP 10, and the processing proceeds to step S28.

In step S28, the portable terminal 50 displays an error message on thetouchscreen 75. In this case, the processing in steps S23 and S24(described below) is not performed.

On the contrary, in the case where, among the three kinds of information(six pieces of information in total) acquired via the two differentpaths, all the pieces of information of the same kind (correspondingpieces of information) acquired via the two paths are matched, it isdetermined (confirmed) that the portable terminal 50 exists in thevicinity of the MFP 10. In this case, the processing proceeds from stepS22 to step S23. As described above, in the case where it is confirmedthat the pieces of the information acquired via the two different pathsare matched with each other, it is determined that the portable terminal50 exists in the vicinity of the MFP 10, and the processing proceeds tostep S23.

Note that, herein, although collation operation regarding the threekinds of information (SSID, password, and MAC address) is performed instep S22, the collation operation is not limited thereto. For example,the collation operation regarding more kinds of information (e.g., fouror more kinds of information also including the IP address and the like)may be performed. Alternatively, the collation operation regardingcomparatively few kinds of information may be performed. However, whenthe collation operation is performed by using comparatively many kindsof information, it is possible to comparatively reduce possibility ofunauthorized access.

In step S23, the portable terminal 50 prepares a wireless LANcommunication profile (data) regarding the MFP 10 on the basis of theinformation acquired in step S4 (and/or the information acquired in stepS21). The profile includes the information (SSID, password, and thelike) for wireless LAN communication with the image forming device 10.Further, the portable terminal 50 displays a screen (profileregistration screen) 308 (see FIG. 12) for registering the profile inthe OS 110. When an install button 328 in the profile registrationscreen 308 is pushed by the user, the portable terminal 50 installs theprofile. In this way, the profile is registered in the OS 110. Note thatregistration processing of the profile is also expressed as registrationprocessing of registering the communication information (SSID, password,and the like) for wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10 in theportable terminal 50 in order to execute the wireless LAN communication.

As described above, in step S23, the profile registration processing orthe like is permitted on condition that existence of the user of theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed.

Thereafter, in step S24, processing similar to the processing in stepS12 is executed. Specifically, the portable terminal 50 changes overfrom BLE communication to wireless LAN communication and requires theMFP 10 to transmit detailed information on the MFP 10 via wireless LANcommunication. In response to this request, the MFP 10 transmits thedetailed information on the MFP 10 (installation place, model name,authentication information, and the like) to the portable terminal 50via wireless LAN communication. The portable terminal 50 receives thedetailed information from the MFP 10 and displays the screen 303 (FIG.8) on the touchscreen 75. Thereafter, when the user pushes the button313 to give a registration instruction (addition instruction), thedevice information on the MFP 10 (IP address, SSID for wireless LAN,password for wireless LAN, MAC address, installation place, model name,authentication information, and the like) is registered in theapplication 120. Further, the dialog screen 315 (FIG. 9) is displayed,and whether to perform registration processing of registering the MFP asa default device is confirmed.

According to the above operation, first, an IP address for use inwireless LAN communication is acquired via BLE communication, and, basedon success or failure of communication using the IP address, whether ornot communication information such as an SSID and a password isregistered in the portable terminal 50 is determined (step S11). In thecase where it is determined that the communication information has notyet been registered in the portable terminal 50, registration processingof the communication information is not immediately executed butprocessing of confirming “existence of a user who possesses the portableterminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10” (steps S21, S22) is firstexecuted. Then, on condition that existence of the user in the vicinityof the MFP 10 is confirmed, registration processing (profileregistration processing or the like) of registering the communicationinformation (SSID, password, and the like) for wireless LANcommunication with the MFP 10 in the portable terminal 50 in order toperform the wireless LAN communication is permitted (step S23).Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user (distant user) who does notexist in the vicinity of the MFP 10 from performing the profileregistration or the like and to prevent the distant user from accessingthe MFP 10.

Even in the case where pairing processing between the MFP 10 and theportable terminal 50 in BLE communication (in particular, pairingprocessing with user confirmation (“Numeric Comparison” method, “PasskeyEntry” method, or the like)) is not executed, existence of the user inthe vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by using, for example, aphotographed image of a two-dimensional barcode, and then the profileregistration processing or the like is permitted. Therefore, even in thecase where the pairing processing is not executed, it is possible toappropriately prevent a distant user from accessing the MFP 10.

2. Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is a modification example of the first embodiment. Adifference from the first embodiment will be mainly described below.

In the above first embodiment, existence of a user who possesses theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by usinga two-dimensional barcode.

In the second embodiment, existence of a user who possesses the portableterminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by using an NFCtag.

An MFP 10 (10B) according to the second embodiment (see FIG. 13) alsoincludes an NFC tag 7. The NFC tag 7 is provided in the vicinity of, forexample, a surface of the operation panel unit 6 c of the MFP 10 (or amain body unit or the like of the MFP 10). In the NFC tag 7, forexample, device identification information (e.g., MAC address) of theMFP 10 is embedded.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operation of an application 120 (alsoreferred to as “120B”) of a portable terminal 50 (also referred to as“50B”) according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a sequencediagram showing operation of each device in a system 1 (1B) according tothe second embodiment. Operation in the system 1B will be described withreference to those drawings.

As is clear from comparison between FIG. 14 and FIG. 4, operationaccording to the second embodiment is different from the operationaccording to the first embodiment in that processing in steps S31 andS32 is performed instead of steps S21 and S22. Note that, in steps S1 toS5, S11, S12, S23, S24, and S28, operation similar to the operation inFIG. 4 is performed.

Specifically, in the case where wireless LAN communication in step S5fails and it is determined that registration of wireless LANcommunication information on the MFP 10 has not yet been completed, theprocessing proceeds from step S11 to step S31.

In step S31, the portable terminal 50 displays a dialog screen (notshown) on the touchscreen 75. In the dialog screen (message screen), forexample, the wording “Please touch the portable terminal to an NFC touchposition of the MFP.” (instruction that brings the portable terminal 50into contact with (causes the portable terminal 50 to approach to) theNFC tag of the MFP (NFC tag reading instruction)) is written.

Next, the user brings the portable terminal 50 into contact with (causesthe portable terminal 50 to approach to) the touch position of the MFP10 (e.g., a predetermined position in the operation panel unit 6 c)while referring to a display content of the dialog screen.

The portable terminal 50 communicates with the NFC tag 7 in the MFP 10by using an NFC communication unit (also referred to as “NFC reader” (or“information reading unit”) or the like) included in the short-rangewireless communication unit 54 b and reads information in the NFC tag 7to acquire the information. Specifically, the portable terminal 50acquires the device identification information (e.g., MAC address) ofthe MFP 10 from the NFC tag 7.

Then, in step S32, the portable terminal 50 compares (collates) theinformation (specifically, MAC address) acquired from the NFC tag 7(step S31) with information (specifically, MAC address) acquired via BLEcommunication (steps S1 to S4). In short, pieces of the informationacquired via two different paths are compared.

In the case where identity of the pieces of the information acquired viathe two different paths is denied, the processing proceeds to step S28.

On the contrary, when it is confirmed that the pieces of the informationacquired via the two different paths are identical, existence of theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is determined(confirmed), and the processing proceeds to step S23. In step S23, as inthe first embodiment, preparation processing of a wireless LANcommunication profile, registration processing of the profile, and thelike are executed on the basis of the information (MAC address, SSID,password, IP address, and the like) acquired in step S4 and/or the like.In the next step S24, as in the first embodiment, BLE communicationchanges over to wireless LAN communication, and, for example, processing(device registration processing) of registering, in the application 120,device information also containing information acquired by using thewireless LAN communication is executed.

According to the above operation, it is possible to obtain an effectsimilar to the effect of the first embodiment. In particular, in thesecond embodiment, it is possible to confirm existence of a user of theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 by using an NFC tagor the like instead of a two-dimensional barcode. Specifically,existence of the user in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed oncondition that information acquired in step S31 and information acquiredin steps S1 to S4 are matched. Then, on condition that existence of theuser in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed, registration processing(profile registration processing or the like) of registeringcommunication information (SSID, password, and the like) for wirelessLAN communication with the MFP 10 in the portable terminal 50 in orderto perform the wireless LAN communication is permitted (step S23).Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user (distant user) who does notexist in the vicinity of the MFP 10 from performing the profileregistration and the like and to prevent the distant user from accessingthe MFP 10.

Note that, in the above second embodiment, although only a single pieceof information (MAC address) is stored in the NFC tag 7, the informationis not limited thereto, and a plurality of pieces of information(information also containing (all or part of) wireless LAN communicationinformation (SSID, password, and IP address) of the MFP 10 and the like)may be stored. In that case, in step S32, collation processing regardingeach of a plurality of kinds of information may be executed.

3. Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is a modification example of the first embodiment. Adifference from the first embodiment will be mainly described below.

In the above first embodiment, existence of a user who possesses theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by usinga two-dimensional barcode.

In the third embodiment, existence of a user who possesses the portableterminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by using an ICcard (IC card possessed by the user of the portable terminal 50). The ICcard is, for example, a contactless IC card such as “Suica” (registeredtrademark).

An MFP 10 (10C) according to the third embodiment (see FIG. 16) alsoincludes an IC card reader 8. The IC card reader 8 is provided in thevicinity of, for example, a surface of the operation panel unit 6 c ofthe MFP 10 (or a main body unit or the like of the MFP 10). As describedbelow, information in an IC card (card identification information (cardnumber)) is read by the IC card reader 8, and the read information istransmitted to the portable terminal 50 from the MFP 10 by using BLEcommunication. In this way, the portable terminal 50 acquires the cardidentification information of the IC card of the user via the MFP 10.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing operation of an application 120 (alsoreferred to as “120C”) of a portable terminal 50 (also referred to as“50C”) according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 18 is a sequencediagram showing operation of each device in a system 1 (1C) according tothe third embodiment. Operation in the system 1C will be described withreference to those drawings.

As is clear from comparison between FIG. 17 and FIG. 4, operationaccording to the third embodiment is different from the operationaccording to the first embodiment in that processing in steps S41 andS42 is performed instead of steps S21 and S22. Note that, in steps S1 toS5, S11, S12, S23, S24, and S28, operation similar to the operation inFIG. 4 is performed.

As shown in a top part of FIG. 18, before processing in FIG. 17 isperformed, ID information (card identification number) of an IC card ofa user of the portable terminal 50 is registered in the application 120in advance. Specifically, the user of the portable terminal 50 performsoperation of registering a desired IC card among the user's IC cards inthe application 120 as an IC card that can be used for communicationwith the MFP 10. Specifically, operation of registering the cardidentification number of the IC card to be registered is performed.Based on the operation by the user, the portable terminal 50 registersthe card identification information of the IC card to be registered inthe application 120.

In the third embodiment, first, the processing in steps S1 to S5 and S11is executed in the same way as the first embodiment.

Then, in the case where wireless LAN communication in step S5 fails andit is determined that registration of wireless LAN communicationinformation on the MFP 10 has not yet been completed, the processingproceeds from step S11 to step S41.

In step S41, the portable terminal 50 displays a dialog screen (notshown) on the touchscreen 75. In the dialog screen (message screen), forexample, the wording “Please touch the IC card to a card touch positionof the MFP.” (instruction that brings the IC card into contact with(causes the IC card to approach to) the IC card reader of the MFP (ICcard approaching instruction)) is written.

Next, the user brings the IC card into contact with (causes the IC cardto approach to) the touch position of the MFP 10 (e.g., a predeterminedposition in the operation panel unit 6 c) while referring to a displaycontent of the dialog screen.

The MFP 10 reads card identification information (card number) in the ICcard by using the IC card reader 8. Then, the MFP 10 transmits the readinformation (card identification information) to the portable terminal50 by using BLE communication (see also FIG. 18).

The portable terminal 50 receives information transmitted from the MFP10 via BLE communication to acquire the card identification informationof the IC card. In other words, the portable terminal 50 receives thecard identification information read by the IC card reader of the MFP 10(card identification information of the IC card of the user of theportable terminal 50) from the MFP 10 by using BLE communication andthus acquires the card identification information.

Then, in step S42, the portable terminal 50 compares (collates) the cardidentification information read and transmitted by the MFP 10 (step S41)with the card identification information registered in the application120 in advance before step S1. In short, pieces of the informationacquired via two different paths are compared.

In the case where identity of the pieces of the information acquired viathe two different paths is denied, the processing proceeds to step S28.

On the contrary, when it is confirmed that the pieces of the informationacquired via the two different paths are identical, existence of theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is determined(confirmed), and the processing proceeds to step S23. In step S23, as inthe first embodiment, preparation processing of a wireless LANcommunication profile, registration processing of the profile, and thelike are executed. In step S23 in the third embodiment, the preparationprocessing of the profile and the like are performed by using variouskinds of information acquired via BLE communication in step S4 (thedevice identification information (e.g., MAC address) of the MFP 10, thewireless LAN communication information (SSID, password, and IP address)of the MFP 10, and the like).

In the next step S24, BLE communication changes over to wireless LANcommunication, and, for example, processing (device registrationprocessing) of registering, in the application 120, device informationalso containing information acquired by using the wireless LANcommunication is executed.

According to the above operation, it is possible to obtain an effectsimilar to the effect of the first embodiment. In particular, in thethird embodiment, it is possible to confirm existence of a user of theportable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 by using an IC cardor the like instead of a two-dimensional barcode. Specifically,existence of a user in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed oncondition that card identification information acquired in step S41 andcard identification information registered in the portable terminal 50in advance (before step S1) are matched. Then, on condition thatexistence of the user in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed, theregistration processing (profile registration processing or the like) ofregistering communication information (SSID, password, and the like) forwireless LAN communication with the MFP 10 in the portable terminal 50in order to perform the wireless LAN communication is permitted (stepS23). Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user (distant user) whodoes not exist in the vicinity of the MFP 10 from performing the profileregistration and the like and to prevent the distant user from accessingthe MFP 10.

In this embodiment, each user only needs to register the user's IC cardin the user's portable terminal 50 (application 120), and a manager doesnot need to register all IC cards of all users in the MFP 10. Therefore,it is possible to reduce the burden of the manager.

4. Fourth Embodiment

The portable terminal 50 (application 120) can communicate with the MFP10 by using short-range wireless communication to log in the MFP 10(perform login for operating a panel of the MFP 10). In this fourthembodiment, such a login function (panel login function using theapplication 120) will be described. Note that a system 1 (1D) in thefourth embodiment has a configuration similar to the configuration ofthe system 1 (1C) in the third embodiment, and an MFP 10 (10D) and aportable terminal 50 (50D) according to the fourth embodiment haveconfigurations similar to those of the MFP 10 (10C) and the portableterminal 50 (50C) according to the third embodiment. However, as shownin FIG. 19, the MFP 10D according to the fourth embodiment also includesa determination unit 15 (described below).

The panel login function using the application 120 (also referred to as“application-use type panel login function”) is a function of logging inthe MFP 10 while operating the portable terminal 50, instead of loggingin the MFP 10 while performing login operation with respect to theoperation panel unit 6 c (touchscreen 25) of the MFP 10. Morespecifically, this application-use type panel login function is afunction of transmitting authentication information (login information)registered in the application 120 in advance from the portable terminal50 to the MFP 10 via BLE communication to execute authenticationprocessing (login processing). The application-use type panel loginfunction is convenient in that a user does not need to perform inputoperation of authentication information (login information) to theoperation panel unit 6 c.

Note that a user who has logged in the MFP by using the application-usetype panel login function can use the MFP 10 by using the operationpanel unit 6 c (touchscreen 25) of the MFP 10. Specifically, the loginuser can use various functions (scanning function, copy function, andthe like) of the MFP 10 by operating the operation panel unit 6 c.Further, in the application-use type panel login function, only BLEcommunication is used between the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50,and wireless LAN communication is not used therebetween.

The application-use type panel login function is originally on thepremise that the MFP is used by a user who exists in the vicinity of theMFP 10. However, as described above, the communication range of BLEcommunication is longer than the communication range of NFCcommunication and reaches, for example, about 30 meters in some cases.Thus, when, in the case where login information can be transmitted fromthe portable terminal 50 to the MFP 10 via BLE communication, the logininformation is always transmitted and the authentication processing isexecuted, login by a login user U1 is allowed even in the case where thelogin user U1 exists in a place comparatively distant from the MFP 10.In this case, the MFP 10 may misrecognize operation (panel operation) ofthe MFP 10 by a user U2 (user U2 who exists in the vicinity of the MFP10) who is different from the login user U1 as operation by the loginuser U1 and execute processing based on the operation. In short, paneloperation by another user U2 may be misrecognized as panel operation bythe login user U1.

In view of this, in this embodiment, processing of confirming existenceof the user U1 who possesses the portable terminal 50 (user U1 whoattempts to perform login) in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is executed.Specifically, as described below, existence of the user U1 in thevicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed by using operation of bringing an ICcard of the user U1 into contact with (causing the IC card to approachto) the MFP 10. According to this, it is possible to prevent login tothe MFP 10 using the portable terminal 50 that exists in a comparativelydistant place and to prevent operation by the user U2, which isdifferent from operation by the login user U1, from being misrecognizedas operation by the login user U1.

Note that, in the fourth embodiment, as well as in the third embodiment,the IC card (in other words, card identification information thereof) isregistered in the user's portable terminal 50 (application 120) inadvance (before step S1) by the user U1. The login information (user ID,password, and the like) of the user U1 is also registered in theportable terminal 50 (application 120) in advance (before step S1) bythe user U1. The above registration processing may be accepted by theregistration control unit 65 or the like.

Hereinafter, operation according to the fourth embodiment will bedescribed in detail below with reference to FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and thelike. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing operation of an application 120(also referred to as “120D”) of the portable terminal 50 (50D) accordingto the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showingoperation of each device in the system 1 (1D) according to the fourthembodiment.

First, a user who desires to use the application-use type panel loginfunction starts the application 120 in the portable terminal 50 andpushes the button 212 (option “MFP panel login”) in the menu screen 201(FIG. 6). Note that only a device that has completed the above-mentioned“device registration” is allowed to perform login in the “MFP panellogin” function.

When the “MFP panel login” is pushed (selected), the portable terminal50 first specifies a device to be logged in (login target device). Inthe case where device registration regarding only a single MFP 10 hasalready been performed, the MFP 10 is specified as the device to belogged in. Meanwhile, in the case where device registration regarding aplurality of MFPs 10 has already been performed, the portable terminal50 displays, on the touchscreen 75, a screen (not shown) for selecting adesired MFP 10 from the plurality of MFPs 10 and specifies the logintarget device in response to selection operation by the user.Specifically, a device selected by the user (selected device) isspecified as the login target device.

When the login target device is specified, the portable terminal 50displays a dialog screen 501 (FIG. 22) on the touchscreen 75. In thedialog screen 501, the wording “Please touch the MFP with the IC card.”is written.

Next, in a state in which the user is close to the MFP 10, the userbrings the user's IC card into contact with (causes the user's IC cardto approach to) a touch position of the MFP 10 (disposition place of theIC card reader 8) while referring to a display content of the dialogscreen 501 (step S61 (see FIG. 20 and FIG. 21)).

The MFP 10 reads card identification information (card number) in the ICcard by using the IC card reader 8. Then, the MFP 10 (specifically,determination unit 15) determines whether or not the card identificationinformation has already been registered in the MFP 10. Note that thedetermination unit 15 is a processing unit for, in the case whereoperation to log in the MFP 10 is performed by the user, determiningwhether or not the card identification information read by the IC cardreader 8 has already been registered in the MFP 10.

Note that “registration of card identification information in the MFP10” and “registration of card identification information in the portableterminal 50” are different concepts. Even in the case where cardidentification information has already been registered in the portableterminal 50 (information registered in the portable terminal 50), thecard identification information has not necessarily been registered inthe MFP 10. Registration in the MFP 10 is performed in, for example,step S64 (described below).

In the case where it is determined that the card identificationinformation read by using the IC card reader 8 has already beenregistered in the MFP 10, the MFP 10 determines that the IC card is acard that has already been registered in the MFP 10 and immediatelydetermines existence of the user who possesses the IC card in thevicinity of the MFP 10. Then, the MFP 10 immediately transmits its owndevice identification information (e.g., MAC address) and a transmissionrequest of login information to the portable terminal 50 via BLEcommunication.

When the portable terminal 50 receives the device identificationinformation, the portable terminal 50 collates a registered MAC address(device identification information) of the selected device with the MACaddress received via BLE communication to confirm that the MFP 10 is thecommunication target device desired by the user. Further, when theportable terminal 50 receives the transmission request, the portableterminal 50 determines that the MFP 10 has determined that the IC cardis a legitimate card and the user who possesses the IC card exists inthe vicinity of the MFP 10, and the processing proceeds to from step S62to step S67 (FIG. 20).

In step S67, in response to the transmission request, the portableterminal 50 transmits the login information (authentication information)registered in the application 120 in advance to the MFP 10. By using thelogin information (user ID for login and password for login) transmittedfrom the portable terminal 50, the MFP 10 executes authenticationprocessing. When the authentication processing succeeds, the MFP 10permits the user corresponding to the login information to performlogin. That is, panel login is completed. Thereafter, in a period untillogout, the user can operate the MFP 10 by using the operation panelunit 6 c of the MFP 10.

As described above, in the case where the IC card is a card that hasalready been registered in the MFP 10 (in the case where the cardidentification information read by using the IC card reader 8 hasalready been registered in the MFP 10), collation operation with aregistered content in the portable terminal 50 (step S63 (describedbelow)) is not performed. Then, it is determined that existence of theuser of the IC card in the vicinity of the MFP 10 has been confirmed,and the processing proceeds to step S67 and, for example, transmissionoperation of the login information is performed.

On the contrary, in the case where it is determined that the cardidentification information read by using the IC card reader 8 has notyet been registered in the MFP 10 (the IC card is a card that has notbeen registered in the MFP 10), the MFP 10 transmits the cardidentification information to the portable terminal 50 via BLEcommunication. When the portable terminal 50 receives the cardidentification information (ID information of the IC card) from the MFP10 via BLE communication (step S62), the portable terminal 50 determinesthat a collation request regarding the card identification informationhas been received, and the processing proceeds to step S63.

As described above, in the case where, when the user desires to log inthe MFP 10 (when the user performs login operation), an IC card that hasnot yet been registered in the MFP 10 (card identification informationthat has not yet been registered) is read by the IC card reader 8 of theMFP 10, the card identification information that has not yet beenregistered is transmitted from the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 50via BLE communication (step S62). Note that, in step S62, the portableterminal 50 also receives device identification information (e.g., MACaddress) of the MFP 10 from the MFP 10. Then, the processing proceeds tostep S63.

In step S63, when the portable terminal 50 first receives the deviceidentification information of the MFP 10, the portable terminal 50collates a registered MAC address (device identification information) ofthe selected device with the MAC address received via BLE communicationand confirms that the MFP 10 is the communication target device desiredby the user.

Further, in step S63, the portable terminal 50 (application 120)collates the card identification information received from the MFP 10 instep S62 with the card identification number of the IC card registeredin the application 120 in advance. In short, pieces of the informationacquired via two different paths are compared.

In the case where it is determined that both the card identificationnumbers are not identical (are not matched), transmission of the logininformation is not permitted (eventually, login is also not permitted),and an error message is displayed (step S68).

On the contrary, in the case where it is determined that both the cardidentification numbers are identical (are matched) (in the case wherecollation of the card identification numbers succeeds), the portableterminal 50 (application 120) determines that the IC card is alegitimate card and determines that the user who possesses the IC cardexists in the vicinity of the MFP 10, and the processing proceeds tostep S64.

In step S64, the portable terminal 50 permits the own terminal totransmit the login information by the user of the portable terminal 50(user of the IC card). Then, in response to the permission, the portableterminal 50 transmits the login information registered in theapplication 120 in advance to the MFP 10. By using the login informationtransmitted from the portable terminal 50, the MFP 10 executesauthentication processing. When the authentication processing succeeds,the MFP 10 permits the user corresponding to the login information toperform login. That is, panel login is completed. Thereafter, in aperiod until logout, the user can operate the MFP 10 by using theoperation panel unit 6 c of the MFP 10.

In step S64, the portable terminal 50 also transmits a registrationrequest of the IC card (specifically, card identification numberthereof). Based on the registration request, the MFP 10 registers the ICcard (specifically, card identification number thereof) in the MFP 10.

According to the above operation, login information is notunconditionally (immediately) transmitted from the portable terminal 50to the MFP 10 on the basis of a login instruction in the application120, but existence of the user of the portable terminal 50 in thevicinity of the MFP 10 is confirmed first by using the IC card.Specifically, in the case where the operation to log in the MFP 10 isperformed by the user, the card identification information of the ICcard read by the IC card reader 8 is transmitted from the MFP 10 to theportable terminal 50 via BLE communication. On condition that the cardidentification information received from the MFP 10 via BLEcommunication and the card identification information registered in theportable terminal 50 in advance are matched, the portable terminal 50determines existence of the user in the vicinity of the MFP 10 (stepS63). Then, on condition that existence of the user in the vicinity ofthe MFP 10 is confirmed, the user's login information to the MFP 10 istransmitted to the MFP 10 via BLE communication (step S64).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user (distant user) who doesnot exist in the vicinity of the MFP 10 from performing panel login. Inother words, it is possible to prevent login to the MFP 10 using theportable terminal 50 that exists in a comparatively distant place and toprevent operation by the user U2, which is different from operation bythe login user U1, from being misrecognized as operation by the loginuser U1.

In this embodiment, each user only needs to register the user's IC cardin the user's portable terminal 50 (application 120), and a manager doesnot need to register all IC cards of all users in the MFP 10. Therefore,it is possible to reduce the burden of the manager.

5. Others

In the system 1 of each of the above embodiments, it is possible to usethe panel login function in the main menu screen 201 (FIG. 6) of theportable terminal 50 as described above.

Although description is omitted in the above description, in the casewhere device registration is performed via BLE communication,information indicating that “the MFP 10 has the panel login functionusing BLE communication” is also transmitted from the MFP 10 to theportable terminal 50 in step S4. Then, based on the information, theportable terminal 50 (application 120) registers the informationindicating that “the MFP 10 has the panel login function using BLEcommunication” in the own device 50 (application 120).

In the case where device registration is performed without using BLEcommunication, the following problem may arise.

For example, when “device registration” (211) is selected in the mainmenu screen 201 (FIG. 6) of the portable terminal 50 and then a “manual”button 322 is pushed in the next screen 301 (FIG. 7), a “manualregistration screen” (not shown) is displayed. The user can manuallyregister wireless LAN communication information (connection information)(IP address, SSID, password, and the like) by using the “manualregistration screen”.

However, in the case where only registration of wireless LANcommunication information is simply performed in such manualregistration processing, setting processing is terminated without BLEcommunication. In this case, BLE communication in step S4 is notperformed, and therefore the portable terminal 50 cannot acquireinformation indicating that “the MFP 10 has the panel login functionusing BLE communication”. As a result, it is difficult for theapplication 120 to grasp whether or not a communication destinationdevice registered in the “manual registration screen” is a “panel loginfunction usable device” (device that can use the panel login functionusing BLE communication).

In such a case, for example, when the “MFP panel login” 212 is selectedin the main menu screen 201 in FIG. 6, the application 120 cannotimmediately recognize existence of the “panel login function usabledevice” (e.g., MFP 10) even in the case where the device actuallyexists.

In view of this, in this system 1 (in particular, portable terminal 50),the following registration processing is executed by using a registereddevice list screen (described below).

Specifically, for example, when the setting button 215 in the main menuscreen 201 (FIG. 6) of the portable terminal 50 is pushed, a submenuscreen (not shown) is further displayed. Further, when an option“registered device list” is selected in the submenu screen, a screen(registered device list screen) 601 shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on thetouchscreen 75.

The screen 601 has a display section 611 of a registered device on aleft side thereof. One or plurality of registered devices (two devicesin FIG. 23) is displayed in the display section 611, and a user canselect a desired device from the one or plurality of registered devices.Then, detailed information on the selected device is displayed in adisplay section 612 on the right side in the screen 601.

For example, in the case where a device registered by using BLEcommunication is selected, information indicating that the selecteddevice is a “device in which BLE authentication is permitted” (“deviceregistered via BLE”) (“permitted”) is displayed in a setting section 623(specifically, on the right end side thereof) in the display section612.

Meanwhile, in the case where a manually registered device is selected,information indicating that the selected device is a “device in whichBLE authentication has not yet been permitted” (“device registered notvia BLE”) (“not permitted”) is displayed in the setting section 623(specifically, on the right end side thereof).

Thereafter, processing shown in FIG. 24 is executed.

First, in step S71, the portable terminal 50 determines whether or not aBLE communication radio wave (advertising data transmission radio wave)of the device (selected device) selected in the screen 601 is received.

In the case where the advertising data transmission radio wave is notreceived, the portable terminal 50 performs gray out display of a button624 in the display section 612 on the right side in the screen 601 (stepS72).

On the contrary, in the case where the advertising data transmissionradio wave is received, the portable terminal 50 normally displays thebutton 624 in the display section 612 on the right side in the screen601. That is, the button 624 is displayed in a state in which pushingoperation is acceptable (step S73). Then, the portable terminal 50accepts pushing operation of the button 624 from the user (step S74).

When the pushing operation of the button 624 is accepted, the processingproceeds to step S75. In step S75, the portable terminal 50 determineswhether or not a MAC address of the selected device (MAC addressacquired and registered at the time of the previous device registration)and a MAC address of the device connected via BLE communication (stepS71) (MAC address received from the BLE-connected device at the presenttime) are matched.

In the case where both the MAC addresses are not matched, the processingproceeds to step S78. In step S78, the portable terminal 50 displays anerror message (e.g., “Devices are not matched. Please execute operationin front of the selected device”). In this case, processing in step S76is not executed.

On the contrary, in the case where it is confirmed that both the MACaddresses are matched, the processing proceeds to step S76. In step S76,the portable terminal 50 acquires various kinds of information(indicating that “the MFP 10 has the panel login function using BLEcommunication” and the like) from the MFP 10 via BLE communication.Further, based on the information, the portable terminal 50 registersthe information indicating that “the MFP 10 has the panel login functionusing BLE communication” and the like in the application 120.

Thereafter, in the case where the main menu screen 201 of theapplication 120 is displayed, the option “MFP panel login” (212) in themain menu screen 201 is validated on the basis of the registeredinformation indicating that the MFP 10 has the “panel login functionusing BLE communication”. By, for example, selecting (pushing) theoption 212, the user can execute panel login operation with respect tothe near MFP 10 by using the portable terminal 50.

6. Modification Example and the Like

Hereinabove, embodiments of this invention have been described, but thisinvention is not limited to the content described above.

For example, although an MFP has been exemplified as an image formingdevice in each embodiment, the image forming device is not limitedthereto and may be a single function printer, a single function scanner,or the like.

In the above first to the third embodiments, “acquisition processing” ofacquiring communication information for executing wireless LANcommunication via BLE communication (see, for example, step S4) and“confirmation processing” of confirming existence of a user whopossesses the portable terminal 50 in the vicinity of the MFP 10 (see,for example, steps S22, S32, S42) are executed in this order, but theorder is not limited thereto.

For example, contrarily, the acquisition processing (see, for example,step S4) may be executed after the confirmation processing (see, forexample, steps S22, S32, and S42) is executed (but before step S23).

In this case, before the confirmation processing (see steps S22, S32,and S42), only part of information transmitted in step S4 in eachembodiment may be transmitted as collation information from the MFP 10to the portable terminal 50 via BLE communication. For example,information (collation information) containing device identificationinformation of the MFP 10 may be transmitted from the MFP 10 to theportable terminal 50 via BLE communication before the confirmationprocessing. Then, collation processing (see steps S22, S32, and S42) maybe performed by using the part of the information (collationinformation). Before step S5, only an IP address of the MFP 10 may betransmitted (as information for specifying a communication destinationin communication in step S5) from the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 50via BLE communication.

Note that the collation information may contain only, for example,device identification information (MAC address) of the MFP 10 to becommunicated. Alternatively, the collation information may contain thedevice identification information and part of communication information(e.g., only SSID) for executing wireless LAN communication. Remainingpieces of information (e.g., password for wireless LAN) of wireless LANcommunication information (or all pieces thereof) is not transmittedfrom the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 50 before the confirmationprocessing and may be transmitted from the MFP 10 to the portableterminal 50 after the confirmation processing. When informationtransmitted from the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 50 before theconfirmation processing is terminated is limited, it is possible toimprove security.

In each of the above embodiments, BLE communication without pairingprocessing is exemplified, but BLE communication is not limited thereto.For example, BLE communication may be performed along with pairingprocessing (specifically, pairing processing using method without userconfirmation (e.g., “Just Works” method)).

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustratedand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scopeof the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory recording medium storing acomputer readable program that causes a computer included in a portableterminal communicable with an image forming device by using short-rangewireless communication to log in the image forming device to execute: a)a step of registering card identification information of an IC card of auser who possesses the portable terminal in the portable terminal inadvance; b) a step of, in the case where operation to log in the imageforming device is performed by the user after the step a), receivingcard identification information of an IC card read by an IC card readerof the image forming device from the image forming device via theshort-range wireless communication; c) a step of determining existenceof the user in the vicinity of the image forming device on conditionthat the card identification information acquired in the step b) and thecard identification information registered in the portable terminal inadvance in the step a) are matched; and d) a step of transmitting theuser's login information to the image forming device to the imageforming device via the short-range wireless communication on conditionthat existence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming deviceis determined in the step c).
 2. The non-transitory recording mediumstoring a computer readable program according to claim 1, wherein in thestep b), in the case where the image forming device determines that thecard identification information read by the IC card reader has not yetbeen registered in the image forming device, the card identificationinformation is transmitted from the image forming device to the portableterminal via the short-range wireless communication.
 3. A portableterminal communicable with an image forming device by using short-rangewireless communication to log in the image forming device, the portableterminal comprising: a registration control unit configured to acceptprocessing of registering card identification information of an IC cardof a user who possesses the portable terminal in the portable terminalin advance; a reception unit configured to, in the case where operationto log in the image forming device is performed by the user, receivecard identification information of an IC card read by an IC card readerof the image forming device from the image forming device via theshort-range wireless communication; a confirmation unit configured toconfirm existence of the user in the vicinity of the image formingdevice on condition that the card identification information received bythe reception unit and the card identification information registered inthe portable terminal in advance by using the registration control unitare matched; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the user'slogin information to the image forming device to the image formingdevice via the short-range wireless communication on condition thatexistence of the user in the vicinity of the image forming device isconfirmed.